Very Small South American Fish!

[aloaring]

Hi Guys
I'm planning ahead here, i'm moving four hours away with my 15 gallon heavily planted tank. And i'll be taking the current occupants with it
4 ember tetras
5 pygmy cories
1 female endler
2 female bettas
So my future plans are to remove the bettas into a split tank (since their sister died they are arguing too much) and i have the idea to develop the 15 gallon into a dwarf fish tank. I've been reserching and there are loads of dwarf tetras (sedge tetra, and savannah are my favourites) out there and a few other species of dwarf cories (hastatus, habrosus) which i'm going to try and source . Most of them are from south america so i was thinking to stick to this theme. But theres no centre piece fish i was thinking apisto but feel they would be too big for this tank so can anyone think of another south american fish thats stays relatively small (Below 5cm) and is peacful (so no dwarf puffers please!!)

 

[piper]

Okay its an Idian species but if your looking for something small then check out Badis bengalensis. I have just been introduced to this fish by some of the guys on this forum and it looks smashing. Only grows to 3cm !! Check it out info on it here

 

[Griz]

A 15 gal isn't really too small for a pair of apistos, especially if you opt for borellii which are somewhat smaller than cacatuoides and do better as a pair. Cacatuoides are larger and do better in a ratio of more than one female per male. Another option, and probably the safest bet would be to keep a single male apisto. There are some other species that are quite small but are also hard to find (unless you are willing to order them which can get expensive)

edit: I just had another idea for you: Pencilfish. They are small, peaceful and a very interesting fish. A pair or trio would be fine in your tank. If you are lucky enough to find Nannostomus mortenthaleri they are absolutely beautiful, but any of the other Nannostomus species would work.

 

[aloaring]

Hmmm some very interesting ideas there and all are very beautiful fish. Decisons, decisons!!